Mourners Remember Sniper Victim Who Beat Breast Cancer

ARLINGTON, Va. – One week after her life was cut short by a sniper's bullet, Linda Franklin was remembered Monday as a spirited woman with a generous heart.

Moments before Monday's memorial service began, the sky suddenly brightened and sunlight streamed through the windows of the Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, about five miles west of Washington, D.C..

Franklin, 47, was killed by the sniper last Monday night outside a Home Depot in Falls Church, Va., while loading packages with her husband. Franklin was an FBI analyst who survived breast cancer and was awaiting the birth of her first grandson.

The church altar held votive candles to represent prayers for each of the 12 victims of the sniper. Nine have been killed and three wounded — including the most recent victim, a man shot Saturday night in Ashland, Va. Authorities there confirmed Monday that ballistics results match those of the other sniper victims.

Franklin used to talk with her parents every other day. Her father, Charles Moore, told some 200 mourners, including former colleagues at the FBI, that the absence of those calls is leaving a hole in their hearts.

He said that as a child, Franklin was "sensitive," "thoughtful," and "impetuous." She was born in Columbia, Ind., and grew up in Gainesville, Fla. Franklin graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in education, and worked overseas in Guatemala, Germany, Belgium and Japan.

The Rev. Larry Tingle said when Franklin was teaching in Guatemala, a man with a machete jumped in her Jeep and demanded her car. She refused, but volunteered to drive him where he needed to go.

Tingle said Franklin's senseless death makes some question where God was God on the night of Oct. 14. He reassured mourners that God was with them — and grieving too.

Of the sniper, Tingle said, "Whoever this perpetrator is has surrendered himself to darkness and evil."

Franklin is survived by her husband, Ted, two grown children, Thomas Belvin and Katrina Hannum, her parents Charles and Maryann Moore, her sister Susan Kundrat and brother Steven Moore.

After the service, Montgomery County, Md., executive Doug Duncan — who has attended every sniper victim funeral — told reporters the best in law enforcement is working on the case.

"We're going to catch whoever is doing this and were going to have peace and safety once again," Duncan said.